Gaming device and method for operating a gaming device

Abstract

A method of operating a gaming device, comprising: displaying an arrangement of a predetermined number of symbol windows; receiving a selection of a number of the windows equal to the unique selection number and causing the display to present a graphical indication of the selected windows; undertaking play of a game, wherein as a result of the base game, each window is associated with a symbol, and wherein each symbol is displayed on the touchscreen display within its associated window, and wherein each symbol is randomly selected from a set comprising one or more first symbols and one or more second symbols; determining that one or more of the selected windows comprises a first symbol as a result of play of the base game; and awarding an award in accordance with the number of selected windows comprising first symbols and an award rule associated with the selected number of windows.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for controlling a user interface of an electronic gaming device having a display, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a selection, from among multiple selection options, of a number of windows among an arrangement of windows to be displayed by the electronic gaming device, wherein two or more of the multiple selection options offer different numbers of windows and different adjustments dependent on associated number of windows to maintain a target level of return to player (RTP) while providing different levels of volatility; 
 determining one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked for an award, wherein the one or more of the windows to be checked are equal in count to the number of windows associated with the selection of the number of windows; 
 undertaking play of a game, wherein, as a result of the play of the game, each window of the arrangement of windows is associated with a symbol to be displayed within that window, including randomly selecting symbols to be displayed within the windows of the arrangement from first symbols and second symbols; 
 for each of the one or more of the windows to be checked, checking whether a window encloses one of the first symbols; and 
 awarding the award in accordance with how many of the one or more of the windows to be checked encloses one of the first symbols, the award further depending on an adjustment associated with the selection of the number of windows. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different adjustments are different multipliers for different ones of the multiple selection options, the different multipliers increasing as the associated number of windows decreases for the different ones of the multiple selection options, so as to maintain the target level of RTP while providing the different levels of volatility. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the different multipliers are different dynamic multipliers, and wherein one of the different dynamic multipliers is randomly selected from multiple possible multipliers for a given one of the multiple selection options. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different adjustments are different reel strips for different ones of the multiple selection options, the different reel strips varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options, so as to maintain the target level of RTP while providing the different levels of volatility. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different adjustments are different lookup tables for different ones of the multiple selection options, the different lookup tables varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options, so as to maintain the target level of RTP while providing the different levels of volatility. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different adjustments are different amounts for the first symbols for different ones of the multiple selection options, the different amounts for the first symbols varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options, so as to maintain the target level of RTP while providing the different levels of volatility. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the windows of the arrangement are organized by reel and by column, and the randomly selecting the symbols uses a reel per column, the reel having an associated reel strip with at least one of the first symbols and at least one of the second symbols. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a selection of position of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked, wherein the determining the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked depends on the selection of the position. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked uses random selection of position of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked uses a predefined selection rule for position of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple selection options offers a unique number of windows. 
     
     
       12. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors, when programmed thereby, to perform operations to control a user interface of an electronic gaming device having a display, the operations comprising:
 receiving user input indicating a selection, from among multiple selection options, of a number of windows among an arrangement of windows to be displayed by the electronic gaming device, wherein two or more of the multiple selection options offer different numbers of windows and different adjustments dependent on associated number of windows to maintain a target level of return to player (RTP) while providing different levels of volatility; 
 displaying a graphical indication of the selection of the number of windows; 
 displaying a result of a play of a game, wherein, as the result of the play of the game, each window of the arrangement of windows is associated with a symbol displayed within that window, symbols displayed within the windows of the arrangement having been randomly selected from first symbols and second symbols; 
 displaying a graphical indication of one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for an award, wherein the one or more windows checked are equal in count to the number of windows associated with the selection of the number of windows; and 
 displaying an indication of the award, wherein the award depends on how many of the one or more windows encloses one of the first symbols and further depends on an adjustment associated with the selection of the number of windows. 
 
     
     
       13. The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the displaying the graphical indication of the selection of the number of windows includes enhancing a border around a graphical depiction of the selection of the number of windows. 
     
     
       14. The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the displaying the graphical indication of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for the award includes, starting before the displaying the result of the play of the game, for each of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for the award, enhancing a border around a window, changing color of the window, altering wording or graphical content of the window, and/or altering size of the window. 
     
     
       15. The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the displaying the graphical indication of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for the award includes, for each of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for the award, highlighting or otherwise visually enhancing the symbol displayed within the window. 
     
     
       16. The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the different adjustments are:
 different multipliers for different ones of the multiple selection options, the different multipliers increasing as the associated number of windows decreases for the different ones of the multiple selection options; 
 different reel strips for the different ones of the multiple selection options, the different reel strips varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options; 
 different lookup tables for the different ones of the multiple selection options, the different lookup tables varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options; or 
 different amounts for the first symbols for the different ones of the multiple selection options, the different amounts for the first symbols varying depending on the associated number of windows for the different ones of the multiple selection options. 
 
     
     
       17. The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving user input indicating a selection of position of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement checked for the award. 
 
     
     
       18. A system for controlling a user interface of an electronic gaming device having a display, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an indication of a selection, from among multiple selection options, of a number of windows among an arrangement of windows to be displayed by the electronic gaming device, wherein two or more of the multiple selection options offer different numbers of windows and different numbers of game rounds dependent on associated number of windows to maintain a target level of return to player (RTP) while providing different levels of volatility; 
 determining one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked for an award, wherein the one or more windows to be checked are equal in count to the number of windows associated with the selection of the number of windows;
 for each of the different numbers of game rounds associated with the selection of the different numbers of windows: 
 undertaking play of a game, wherein, as a result of the play of the game, each window of the arrangement of windows is associated with a symbol to be displayed within that window, including randomly selecting symbols to be displayed within the windows of the arrangement from first symbols and second symbols; 
 for each of the one or more windows to be checked, checking whether a window encloses one of the first symbols; and 
 
 awarding the award in accordance with how many of the one or more windows to be checked encloses one of the first symbols. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the different numbers of game rounds increase as the associated number of windows decreases for different ones of the multiple selection options, so as to maintain the target level of RTP while providing the different levels of volatility. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a selection of position of the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked, wherein the determining the one or more of the windows of the arrangement to be checked depends on the selection of the position.